1951-09-27; Saline Observer

              /6e
cdine OvteMWi
SIXTY-EIGHTH YEAR
NUMBER  52
SALINE, WASHTENAW COUNTY, MICHIGAN
THURSDAY, SEPT. 27, 1951      FIVE CENTS PER COPY      $2.50 PER YEAR IN ADVANCE
Member Of Murder Trio
Confesses To Saline Robbery
• • *
FOURTH OF JULY ENDS IN SEPTEMBER
Saline Chief of Police Cecil Alberts on and Officer Harry Joseph leave Ann Arbor
Municipal Court with prisoners, Douglas Edw ards and Philip Richardson, charged with the
robbery of Ed's Grocery on July 4th. The b >ys were arested as a result of events arising
out of the nurse slaying in Ann Arbor earlier this month.
Saline Police Chief Cecil Albertson, in a statement to the
Observer earlier this week, revealed that David Royal of Milan, admitted taking part in the
July 4th robbery of Ed's Grocery near the west limits of Saline.
Royal and two Ypsilanti
youths were arrested last week
in connection with the bludgeon
slaying of an Ann Arbor nurse.
In his • confession to police,
Royal stated that about 2:30 in
the morning, July 4th, -he and
Phil Richardson, Dalejglark and
Doug Edwards, all of Milan,
broke into the local business
place.
The break-in climaxed a night
of aimless car riding around
Milan,. Dundee and western
Washtenaw county. According
to Royal, the four boys got beer
through the back door of a
Milan Tavern. With time on
their hands and under the influence of alcohol, the boys decided to break into the grocery
and gas station from which
Royal said he had stolen a few
cans of oil several days before.
"All of us were feeling pretty
good from the heer," Royal
said, adding that he was "pretty drunk" at the time. The
youths told of parking their car
on M-ll and walking back to
the store. So their story goes,
Clark drove his fist through the
door, cuttinghis hand in the act.
Entering, they then attempted
(Continued on page 8)
Supt Jensen Speaks
To Civic Group •
A crowd of some 200 teachers and members of
the Saline Child Study Club gathered in the school
auditorium last week to hear a speech by Superintendent Leo Jensen, in regards to the youth of this
city.
In view of the shocking Ann Arbor murder episode last week, which involved teen-age youths from
this vicinity, Mr. Jensen's speech entitled, "A Look
Ahead," is especially timely and has added importance.
The following is the full text of Mr. Jensen's
speech.
Madam President,  Members of
the Chifd Study Club, and
Fellow Teachers:
Last week and this week
throughout our country approximately thirty million young
Americans either started or returned to school. From appearances we must have our share,
and we wonder, "How does our
school compare with those attended by the rest of the thirty
million? Are our teaching tech-i
niques as practical? Is our
guidance as effective? Are our
classrooms as well equipped as
those enjoyed by others?"
It is very likely that our
school is lacking in some of the
characteristics which form the
criteria. This in itself is not
cause for too much worry. It
would be cause for concern if
the school were not making progress toward attaining this goal.
(Continued  on page  4)
Fork In The Road
Late one night, over a week ago, the Grim Reaper stalked the streets of Ann Arbor and "found his
prey iii the person of a young, unsuspecting nurse.
A teen age boy, hammer ih hand, served as the
Reaper's agent.
Then swinging his scythe around, the Reaper
turned on his agent and two companions* in a very
real sense, killing them, too. At least for all practical purposes, the three boys who took part in the
murder will be dead and buried in the confines of
the state penitentiary. Their lives are over, ^s far
as the outside world is concerned.
Society recoils from the shock of this terrible
act, regains its cold, calculating composure and mutters, "Too bad".
"Too bad" is no soothing balm for three sets of
parents w__d- even now are dying the thousand deaths
experienced only by those whose loved ones are
condemned to life imprisonment.
To say that "something went wrong" along the
path of raising these boys is gross understatement,
but a fact. WHERE something went wrong is a
question that should concern every resident of Saline.
In the case of the Ann Arbor murder, fate chose
killers from Milan and two from Ypsilanti. Any
right thinking person will readily admit that the
same finger of fate could have pointed to Saline and
selected a potential murderer.
That is why the Pauline Campbell slaying should
strike home the fact that Saline should be up in arms
about the training of its youth every bit as much as
Milan or Ypsilanti. Those two towns must go through
the well known act of locking the bam after the
horse is gone. By taking proper steps, Saline can
snap the lock shut BEFORE a crime can be committed.
In an article elsewhere in this issue, Saline Chief
of Police Cecil Albertson states that idle time, late
hours and illegal drinking on the part of the teenagers, was the contributing factor to robbery and
•murder.
Albertson's capacity to properly analyze a serious problem may save Saline from tragedy IF THE
REST OF THE TOWNSPEOPLE ARE EQUALLY
INTELLIGENT IN SIZING UP THE SITUATION.
There has been enough said about the ruination
of children by over-indulgent parents who spare the
rod or who just don't spend time in understanding
their offspring.
What Saline must concern itself with is providing
ample recreation for its children, NOT ONLY DURING SCHOOL HOURS, BUT EVENINGS AND
WEEKENDS AS WELL.
We understand that the idea of a curfew for
youths under a certain age was never favored too
highly by the townspeople. And a curfew shouldn't
be necessary, if parents are on the job supervising
their children's activity.
HADN'T WE BETTER TAKE A LOOK
AROUND AND SEE IF WE ARE PROVIDING
OUR YOUTH WITH EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO
LEAD USEFUL, DECENT LIVES?
__et's not be so> naive as to think OUR kids
couldn't get into serious trouble.
Tliey can if we don't give them half a chance
to make good in this1 fast moving modern-society.
Fair Sec. Osgood
Says Biggest, Best
All last minute details were taken care of at the
regular Fair Board meeting Monday night. All the
committee chairmen reported o,n the progress they
had been making.
St. Paul's To
Dedicate Building
The dedication of a recently acquired educajtional unit -will be
held in connection "with, the Rally
and Promotion Day services which
Have been planned for St. Paul's
Church. _on Sunday. After the
service of worship in the sanctuary in which members of the
church school will participate, the
congregation will move to the
site of the eduational building
where the pastor, Alvin Siemsen,
Edwin Hering, president of the
congregation, and Erwin Schmid,
church school superintendent, will
lead the assembly in a dedication
service.
The educational unit was formerly the house owned by Mr.
and Mrs. Otto Graf. It was purchased by St. Paul's Church this
summer and has since been remodeled for church school use. Two
assembly rooms and five classrooms will now supply the regular meeting place for the primary
and junior departments of the
church school. It is expected that
some of the meetings of the organizations of the church and
other activities will be held in this
building.
The recent weeks have been
filled with activity for members
of the church council and other
persons of the congregation as
they prepared the building for the
event to be observed on Sunday.
The success of a recent financial
campaign will permit the dedi-
ction of the eduational unit without any financial indebtedness.
Saline Triumphs
Over Lincoln
Saline's Hornets smashed their
way to a splendid 13-0 victory
over Lincoln for its first league
win in four years, and first victory in two years.
This game was played before a
large crowd last Friday at the
Saline field.
The Hornets, a highly spirited
team, came rebounding back after
losing a tough close thriller to
Carleton in the last minute two
weeks ago.
The Hornets completely dominated the play rolling up 11 first
downs to the opposition's five.
The offensive power of Saline was
plagued by penalties which saw
many gains called back. However, the offense performed admirably rolling to 250 yards
gained, and unleashed a surprising
passing attack.    ...
The scores- resulted from a brilliant punt return performed by
Vern Drake  and Jerry Gonser.
Drake caught Lincoln's punt on
his own 43 and handed off to
Jerry Gonser, who scampered 57
yards before being tackled on the
Lincoln 3-yard line. From there,
Rich Miller sneaked oyer for the
touchdown. Miller's kick for conversion was wide, and Saline lead
6-0 in the first quarter.
(Continued on page 4)
With the erection of all the
tents and booths on Monday, a
swing into the final phases of
preparation was comparatively
easy. Plans this year were well
ahead of other years, according
to the Fair .Manager, Charles
Osgood.
The fair this year offers an
increase in tent space and the
gymnasium which is used to exhibit produce, etc., is well filled.
Events are proceeding on
schedule and the judges are ready to perform their duties.
The Saline Community Fair
Board purchased two sets of
bleachers for the schol athletic
field at a cost of $50Qt00. These
will arive later in the season
and will be for use by the
school.
Following is a list of the
judges.
judges,   departments   and  time
of judging:
Wednesday Afternoon
| Floriculture,   Edward   Grosshans, Ann Arbor, 1:00 p. m.
(Continued  on page 8)
Brownie Troop
Has Outing
Saturday, Sept. 22, Lone Troop
2 met at Prout's. Mrs. Siemsen
brought us out to the Ross farm.
When we got there we worked on
our scrap book for the fair. Some
of the girls made necklaces and
some made tom-toms. Later on
we took turns riding 'Trigger"
the horse.' It was a bumpy ride.
By this time we were very hungry. We rosted hot dogs and ate
our lunch. After lunch we went
for a walk. We went to a big
field and pretended to be wild
horses.
On Tuesday, the Lone Troop 2
had its regular meeting and collected their exhibits for the fair.
By Susan Coates
Beginning Band Program
To Get Under Way
The Saline High School Ban-
is having a meeting this Thursday evening, Oct. 2, at 8 p.m., in
the high school gym. The band
will present a program to parents and their children who "would
like to investigate the beginning
band program for this school
year. There will be a short musical presentation by the band at
the beginning of the progrm followed by demonstrations on the
various instruments. Carty's Music Box of Ypsilanti will provide
an instrument display and a film
strip which will show some of
the many advantages to be found
in a musical training. Music
builds character, develops wholesome companionship, creates popularity, promotes discipline, pro-
vides-opportnnity, gjid above all,
is fun.
Everyone who is interested in
knowing more about the beginning band program in our school
or who would just like to hear the
band play is invited to attend.
The beginning band is open to
children in Whe sixth grade thru
the tenth grade-.